The greatest drummers of all time are musicians blessed with impeccable timing who are diligently studied by those who want to play like them. Still, I suppose that if you go by Spinal Tap standards, they’re the folks in whose biographies bizarre gardening accidents are mentioned as the cause of death.
I know for a fact that you simply could not have a good band without a good enough drummer, and could not have a great band without a great drummer. And while nowadays you can program the ideal beat, it’s not quite the same as witnessing a creative musician work his way around the beat.
Just who are the best at beating those skins? Who are the great contributors to the history of pop, rock or jazz? I’ve narrowed it down to 100 top drummers (and a few subs ready to intervene in case of any Eric “Stumpy Joe” Childs incidents).
These are, in my opinion, the greatest 100 drummers of all time. These musicians represent numerous styles, come from many eras of music and are known for a variety of different techniques. They keep the beat and keep being legends.
The 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time
What am I doing writing a list about the greatest drummers of all time? Well, besides, “who asked you?” I’d defend myself by saying that I write hundreds of music reviews every week, have played in numerous bands, am a songwriter, and, on occasion, have been asked to keep a beat when the drummer’s too stoned to count to four.
Greatest Drummers in a Nutshell
| Rank | Drummer | Primary Band / Project | Definitive Track / Style |
| #1 | John Bonham | Led Zeppelin | “When the Levee Breaks” / Heavy Groove |
| #2 | Keith Moon | The Who | “Won’t Get Fooled Again” / Explosive Lead Drumming |
| #3 | Neil Peart | Rush | “Tom Sawyer” / Technical Prog Virtuosity |
| #4 | Ginger Baker | Cream | “Toad” / Jazz-Infused Heavy Rock |
| #5 | Buddy Rich | Buddy Rich Big Band | “West Side Story Suite” / Unmatched Jazz Speed |
| #6 | Ian Paice | Deep Purple | “Space Truckin'” / Hard Rock Shuffle & Chops |
| #7 | Ringo Starr | The Beatles | “Come Together” / Patented Pop-Rock Pocket |
| #8 | Gene Krupa | Benny Goodman Orchestra | “Sing, Sing, Sing” / Big Band Showmanship |
| #9 | Phil Collins | Genesis / Solo | “In the Air Tonight” / Gated Reverb & Fusion Chops |
| #10 | Charlie Watts | The Rolling Stones | “Honky Tonk Women” / Definitive Rock ‘n’ Roll Groove |
1. John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)
Yes, I know, it’s an obligatory mention. However, while John Bonham’s status as “world’s premier drummer” is rarely debated, there’s, in my book, a reason for it.
John Bonham didn’t just add jet fuel to the potent musical concoction created by Led Zeppelin. He wasn’t just the rock gold standard for drumming during the 1970s.
There are countless legends about him, such as the one about James Brown’s three drummers sitting around in wonder as to how a young Bonham could produce the sound that they were making on his own.
Ever since his sad demise and beyond, producers have been working on strategies to get their client to sound like Mr. Bonham. They’ll record in stairwells, add reverb to the drum, and ask modern drummers to hit as loud as they can.
Does it work? No, I don’t think it usually does. Bonham’s “hammer of the Gods” approach was surprisingly subtle. Listening to the intro for “When the Levee Breaks” or the creaky groove of “Since I’ve Been Loving You” should show just why he was the greatest.
Read more about John Bonham here:
- Led Zeppelin Album Ranking
- Led Zeppelin’s Most Underrated 10 Songs
- A Revisited Look at “Led Zeppelin IV”
- Led Zep’s Mud Shark Story
- The Meaning of “The Hermit” in the Artwork for “Led Zeppelin IV”
2. Keith Moon (The Who)
Keith Moon is the Jimi Hendrix of drumming. Yes, he was a great drummer (albeit unpredictable and occasionally inconsistent). But, just as importantly, he made regular rock fans care about drumming because of how entertaining he made it look. I think that’s of great importance in itself!
Besides that, The Who is one of the few bands that belong to the Greatest Rock Bands of All Time club, where the rhythm section was, in fact, the lead section. He and John Entwistle gave the iconic songs by the British band their edge and forcefulness.
And while I can practically see Mr. Moon smiling each time a drummer takes an unnecessarily complex fill, there’s just nobody like him in my book.
3. Neil Peart (Rush)
Rock drummers have long battled each other based on their competency in playing Rush songs. Why? Neil Peart’s proficiency and inventiveness are qualities worth envying, I’m sure.
And while few prog-rock drummers are on par with the late Neil Peart, the Canadian musician was humble about his achievements.
Peart not only added fancy tricks to Rush’s music but also greatly contributed to it. The lyrics and concepts of the songs were his.
To my mind, Peart is the prime example of just what happens when creativity and discipline meet. I doubt that we’ll see anyone like him.
4. Ginger Baker (Cream)
Yeah, Ginger Baker was one of the first superstar drummers. Yes, he got a starring role in the first supergroup, Cream. But, to my mind, what makes Baker’s playing the most amazing is just how naturally it came to him.
In fact, I know how frustrated those who try to copy him feel. Baker is the equivalent of a world-class mathematician doing his work on flair alone.
Baker’s work outside of Cream is also worth checking out. And while personal charisma certainly helped make him a superstar, Baker’s ability is what continues to make him an incredibly important drummer.
5. Buddy Rich
Buddy Rich was to jazz drumming what Miles Davis was to trumpet playing. Rich was not only a band leader and an important figure in the world of jazz. He was, I think, a musician whose sheer skill made him interesting to casual music fans.
This crossover potential, of course, makes Rich routinely be name-checked as one of the finest drummers of all time.
Precise, powerful and highly technical, Rich’s talent has rightfully been recognised way past the life span of the Swing Era. And, were I to fail to mention him, I’d have a thousand drummers taking turns knocking on my door in perfect time.
6. Ian Paice (Deep Purple)
To my mind, Deep Purple‘s Ian Paice is the most underrated of all of the top drummers from the Golden Era of Rock n’ Roll.
Yes, I know that he has played all this time in an extremely famous rock band. But does he get talked about as often as Ian Gillan? Is he as praised as Ritchie Blackmore? He should be!
Paice is a mix of perfect timing, powerful hitting and the ability to keep his spot over years and years. Modern drummers can always learn from him.
7. Ringo Starr (The Beatles)
I know the famous, unflattering John Lennon joke about his friend. Lennon once claimed that Ringo Starr couldn’t be the greatest drummer in the world because he wasn’t the best drummer in The Beatles.
Still, you can recognise nearly all songs by The Beatles based on Starr’s beats alone. That is, I think, a sensational achievement.
Besides being able to be the man in the room with John, Paul and George, Starr became a pop star on his own and still plays his hits together with ace musicians. I don’t think you can have this kind of list without Starr.
8. Gene Krupa
In the world of drumming, Gene Krupa’s abilities are held as the golden standard. Blessed with near-perfect timing and great inventiveness, Krupa built up his skills to near Olympian levels.
Krupa’s style tended to blend rudiments faster and flashier than the majority of contemporaries. In fact, knowing the attention he received for his proficiency, Krupa never shied away from the limelight.
Introducing, practically, a new drum kit and the drum solo to the swing music of the time, Krupa was one of the first star percussionists and one of the greatest of all time.
9. Phil Collins (Genesis)
Phil Collins loved to drum just about as much as he loved to work. And while, famously, I know, Collins became one of the world’s biggest pop stars, his drumming chops could’ve landed him a job with just about any big-name band.
He ended up in one of Britain’s finest prog-rock bands, Genesis. And while he blended singing, producing, and songwriting along with drumming, it’s been moments like the famous drum fill used on “In the Air Tonight” that prove, in my opinion, that Collins is not just a technical drummer, but a musician capable of making the best choices for the songs he’s playing.
10. Charlie Watts (The Rolling Stones)
Charlie Watts would’ve preferred to be a graphic artist first and a jazz drummer second. None of those, fortunately, quite came through. Instead, Watts brought his suave playing and easy-going nature to the biggest rock n’ roll spectacle on Earth, The Rolling Stones.
I think people tend to underestimate how important Watts really was to The Stones. I think that you can, especially, hear him in those patented Stonesy grooves. Charlie Watts is one of the greatest drummers of all time.
Top 11 – 20
11. Bill Ward (Black Sabbath)
Sheer power! This is what Bill Ward brought to Black Sabbath. Yet, I think, that it was when Sabbath was forced to replace him that his role in the band finally became apparent.
Ward held that thundering, minimalist sound of the band together. What it is that he does is hard to quantify. Just like the best guitarists of all time, it’s all in the subtle touch of the man himself.
12. Mitch Mitchell (Jimi Hendrix Experience)
Jimi Hendrix was the first guitar virtuoso in a rock band. But, in many ways, Mitch Mitchell, the man that he chose to sit behind the kit, was the first virtuoso drummer.
Mitchell was capable of serving the songs and of keeping the tempo during Hendrix’s extended solos. But he was able to add his flourishes to the mix.
Mitchell was one of the first drummers whom kids envied and wished to become. I think this earns him a place on the list of the top drummers of all time.
13. Stewart Copeland (The Police)
I often go back to listen to songs by The Police just to hear Stewart Copeland’s drumming. There are no other rock drummers who took more risks in a power trio or on chart-topping pop-rock hits than Copeland. Eccentric, but always able to serve the song, Copeland is a sensational drummer in my opinion.
14. Roger Taylor (Queen)
Queen‘s Roger Taylor always wanted to be a rock star, perhaps even more so than the flamboyant Freddie Mercury. Thankfully, his fashion style was matched by his drumming ability.
Incredibly inventive as a drummer and blessed with the ability to soulfully sing and write hit songs, Taylor is a true rock legend. I think he’s one of the top drummers ever.
15. Bernard Purdie
Many musicians are good. Few get to have a groove named after them. The “Purdie Shuffle” may have become a standard groove for modern drummers. Still, I think that Bernard Purdie’s greatest achievement can be observed by listening to many of the great songs on which he was listed as a session musician.
Perhaps, I suppose, extra points should be awarded for the one on which he might’ve played, but never got credited with, some suggesting these include songs by The Beatles.
16. Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater)
In an arena where technical playing is the prime focus, Mike Portnoy became the king of prog-rock drumming. Portnoy’s training provided him not just with the ability to interpret famous rock songs perfectly, but to contribute as a songwriter to some of Dream Theater‘s finest songs.
Besides all of that, the rock community has always held him in the highest regard, and so do I.
17. Jeff Porcaro (Toto)
Toto was, essentially, a supergroup of faceless session players. And while all of the men chosen for the project possessed incredible skill, Jeff Porcaro was the leader and driving force of that band.
To like Toto is more than to simply enjoy “Rosanna” and “Africa.” Porcaro’s skilful playing dominates all of the classic hits. I think that modern drummers looking to lead a band ought to take Porcaro as an example.
18. Alex Van Halen (Van Halen)
Van Halen had two virtuoso players, if you ask me. The guitarist, Eddie, got much of the praise. But it was his brother, Alex van Halen, with whom he’d practised since they were both children, who was just as important. For fun, effervescent and technically evolved pop-metal playing, there’s little better, I think.
19. Travis Barker (blink-182)
I think that blink-182‘s Travis Barker thoroughly deserves a nod on this list. Barker turned himself into the world’s most famous modern drummer in an era where most songs heard on the radio were using drum machines.
Charismatic, hard-working, and willing to collaborate with artists of all types, Barker should be recognised as one of the drumming greats.
20. Bill Bruford (Yes, King Crimson)
King Crimson‘s Bill Bruford has always been surrounded by musicians dedicated to playing the most complex, sophisticated arrangements. Because of his skill, as well as his friendly nature, Brufford became the go-to drummer for the top British progressive-rock bands of the 1970s.
However, Brufford did more than play polyrhythms on rock tracks. The musician contributed greatly to original compositions and helped keep the beat when asked to play with bands like Genesis. He is a real great, in my opinion!
Top 21 – 30
21. Dave Lombardo (Slayer, Misfits)
In my opinion, other than jazz or classical music, you’re not likely to find better musicians in any other genre apart from heavy metal. Sure thing, Dave Lombardo is the drummer who kept things in line in the chaotic, evil-sounding thrash pioneers, Slayer.
All of that, however, was the result of incredible technique. He was initially a student of Latin jazz. Those years of training have helped Lombardo extend his career with stints in the experimental Fantomas, or with punk legends Suicidal Tendencies and the reunited Misfits.
22. Dave Grohl (Nirvana)
Does how hard a drummer hits factor into the sound of a band? It certainly can. As with guitarists, I think the musician’s touch is essential to the sound produced. And, frankly, it’s that tough, but precise touch that helped Nirvana’s “Nevermind” become a smash hit (pun intended!).
Dave Grohl also built a reputation as a very reliable drummer. He rejected an offer to join Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers in the 1990s. And, early Foo Fighters songs were created to fit his drumming style. He, occasionally, still gets behind the kit and impresses each time.
Finally, although some of the drummers in his band might call him a little overbearing, there’s no denying Dave Grohl is one of the most famous drummers alive.
23. Matt Cameron (Pearl Jam, Soundgarden)
For years and years, Matt Cameron was a marathon runner and a drummer. His job was to play complex grooves in Soundgarden and stadium-shaking rhythms with Pearl Jam in concerts that could last for three hours each night.
A songwriter himself, Cameron has always known how to best serve the songs. His style is surprisingly sophisticated when closely analysed. And, asked about their favourite drummers, many top musicians mention Cameron without thinking twice.
24. Joey Jordison (Slipknot)
Joey Jordison was a metal fanatic with great ambitions. He used his passion to master his thrash and classic rock favourites. And, he used his drive to make, early on, Slipknot into one of the biggest nu-metal bands of the 2000s.
In fact, the thrash flavour he brought to Slipknot was recognised, particularly on one occasion when Jordison was asked to replace Lars Ulrich at the last minute before a Metallica festival appearance, and did great. Jordison is one of the most influential drummers of the modern era.
25. Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge, Cactus; Beck, Bogert &Appice)
Like football players, some are one-club men, and others are journeymen. In the world of rock n’ roll, Carmine Appice is the latter. One of the first drumming virtuosos in rock, Appice has never been short of offers from big-name bands.
His 1960’s work with Vanilla Fudge had a massive impact on young drummers like John Bonham. Meanwhile, his drumming and co-songwriting with Rod Stewart in the 1970s turned him into one of the wealthiest musicians on this list. Appice is a great businessman, and even a greater drummer!
26. Steve Gadd
Steve Gadd is, likely, your favourite drummer’s favourite drummer. That’s because even though Gadd was not a member of a famous rock band, like most of the other entries on this list, his style, technical precision and good taste have made him extremely influential.
Gadd, initially, made his name in the jazz fusion scene of the 1970s. His proficiency led to opportunities playing for the likes of Eric Clapton, Steely Dan, or Paul Simon. For a quick taste, go and check out the intro to “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.” Gadd is a masterful drummer.
27. Cozy Powell (Rainbow, Black Sabbath)
Back in the era of “classic rock”, there was simply no way that a band got to play stadium tours without employing a great, charismatic drummer. And, the man they asked for, more often than not, was Cozy Powell.
Much like Carmine Appice, Powell’s skills earned him plenty of great job opportunities. However, Powell mostly stuck to crowd-pleasing hard-rock. He’s played with Rainbow and Whitesnake at the height of their commercial powers. And he got to be in Black Sabbath, or back Brian May. This guy’s career is fantastic!
28. Carl Palmer (Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Asia)
Emerson, Lake & Palmer was the first band to turn rock touring into the kind of strict exercise that a military unit would be envious of. It wasn’t only that they were travelling with trucks full of gear. ELP’s members formed a supergroup. And their nightly solos were a focal point of the show.
Carl Palmer was known for his outrageous speed and skill. In essence, he was a jazz drummer playing for loud rock combos. Palmer played on radio hits and improvised lengthy solos in front of stadium crowds. That’s quite a flex!
29. Vinnie Colaiuta (Sting, Joni Mitchell, Frank Zappa)
A great drummer’s career is not dissimilar to that of a great surgeon. Both require extensive study time to hone their skills. And, both are in the phone book of rich men who are desperate to employ them.
Vinnie Colaiuta has never had much downtime in his career. That’s because this former Berklee student was always asked to bring his jazz proficiency to music by the likes of Sting or Joni Mitchell. His most famous recordings, however, are those cut with the exigent Frank Zappa during the late 1970s.
Colaiuta may not be a household name, but he’s certainly one of the greatest drummers.
30. Terry Bozzio (U.K., Frank Zappa)
Drummers, if they are any good, are the musicians who get to have the most varied of careers. Terry Bozzio got his start playing jazz. He got his big break playing fusion and prog rock with Frank Zappa in the mid-1970s. And he furthered his career by playing synth-pop and heavy metal.
Terry Bozzio is the kind of drummer who makes instructional videos for other top professionals. It’s no wonder that, even in the modern era, he’s been asked to help out metal bands like Korn or Slipknot. Oh, to have that level of skill and confidence!
Top 31 – 40
31. Phil Rudd (AC/DC)
AC/DC is one of the most popular hard-rock and heavy-metal bands of all time. But ask Phil Rudd if that’s the sound the band was chasing, and he’ll shake his head and, possibly, punch you in the jaw.
AC/DC is the ultimate rock n’ roll groove machine. Those grooves aren’t complicated. They’re just always loose and accurate. You have to hand a lot of that credit over to the work of Phil Rudd!
32. Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
Chad Smith, on the other hand, is a heavy metal drummer who found himself playing in the most famous funk-rock band in the world. How did he handle it? Leaning into the grooves and bringing power to each line.
Of course, Smith’s ability to work off Flea and John Frusciante’s guitar harmonising is legendary. This is the result of a great ability to listen to other players, chops developed through classical study and damn good taste. Chad Smith is a great modern drummer!
33. Hal Blaine
Hal Blaine was one of the greatest session drummers of all time. He was a member of the notorious “Wrecking Crew” that played on Phil Spector’s records. Blaine was asked to perform songs by Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley.
Just how was he so much in demand all of the time? Hal Blaine perfectly understood his role. Firstly, he played to complement the song. Secondly, he worked on developing his unique sound and techniques within that framework. This is why Hal Blaine’s drum parts continue to be studied by modern drummers today.
34. Tommy Lee (Motley Crue)
I am convinced that Tommy Lee would’ve hit as hard, and, likely, had his drum set flying through the air even if he was playing in a jazz combo. Come to think of it, Lee has always had the ability to play jazz rather than pop-metal if he so chose.
Motley Crue, let’s face it, was a weird mixture of virtuoso playing and amateurism. Lee represented the former. His skill and showmanship helped his band turn into a perennial stadium rock act.
35. Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden)
Iron Maiden writes, primarily, adventure songs. An Iron Maiden concert is meant to feel like you are on a fast, dangerous ride. These effects couldn’t have been achieved without Nick McBrain!
Anyone who’s attended an Iron Maiden song where McBrain was present knows that, unlikely as it may seem, he’s always the biggest hit with audiences. McBrain has the ability, the stamina, but also the charisma that make him a star.
36. John Densmore (The Doors)
All of the members of The Doors were crazy! With Jim Morrison, it was just easier to tell as he recited his poetry in shamanistic fashion while angering parents across the U.S.
John Densmore’s craziness was more subtle. It stemmed from the belief that sophisticated music could be integrated into these rock ‘n’ roll shaman rituals.
So much of the sound of The Doors is based on Densmore’s adventurous, but always classy performances. John Densmore was a real artist!
37. Clyde Stubblefield and John “Jabo” Starks (James Brown)
Famously, James Brown preached “The Gospel of the 1” to his backing band. This meant that each instrument needed to be in time with the others. It also meant that each instrument served as a percussion device, each landing on the downbeat.
And, to achieve that powerfully groovy sound, Brown needed more than one drummer. Clyde Stubblefield and John “Jabo” Starks played together for nearly five years. This was Brown’s Golden Era, the end of the 1960s.
They may have invented funk music. But they played with the precision and elegance of jazz drummers, using syncopation, ghost notes, and a light touch on the snares and hi-hats, making them one of the ultimate modern music combos.
38. Alan White (Yes)
When Alan White joined Yes, the progressive rock maestros were unlikely stadium-rock sensations. Sure, their music was sophisticated. Yes, songs were longer than some groups’ entire setlists. But what the band needed was a drum sound that could move an audience of thousands.
That’s what White brought to the band. Alan White was, foremost and foremost, an aggressive rock drummer. However, he also had the ability and intelligence to complement some of Yes’ most advanced compositions. White was both a rocker and a muso!
39. Dave Weckl
Dave Weckl is the man you ask what drumming is, and the one whose answer you trust. This is why George Benson, Robert Plant, Paul Simon, or Chick Correa all called to ask Weckl for his contribution on their records.
Weckl’s drumming style is a compendium of everything that makes jazz-rock fusion so enticing and so difficult to master. It’s his precision, his clever use of rudiments, and his willingness to experiment with rhythm that make him a great drummer.
40. Jimmy Chamberlin (The Smashing Pumpkins)
Singer and songwriter Billy Corgan admits to quarrelling with nearly all of his bandmates except for Jimmy Chamberlin. The reason? According to Corgan, Chamberlin always felt like he was, for a fact, the best musician in whatever room he was in. He was probably right, too!
Chamberlin brought power and precision to Pumpkins’ loose, psych-driven alt-rock sound, paving the way for its ascent. His absence from the band could always be felt.
Jimmy Chamberlin is a drummer who truly leaves his imprint on whatever he plays.
Top 41 – 50
41. Josh Freese (A Perfect Circle, Nine Inch Nails, Guns n’ Roses, Foo Fighters)
Imagine being so good at your profession that the phone never stops ringing. And, imagine that the person on the other end of the line is always some millionaire rock star. This is the story of Josh Freese’s life.
Josh Freese started out as just another Californian punk-rock guitarist. But, it’s been the skill he has developed along with her personality that has garnered never-ending open positions with artists/bands as diverse as Devo, Weezer, Sting or Foo Fighters
Read more:
- Devo, “The Band of the Future”
- Weezer’s 10 Greatest Songs
- The Top 10 Vocal Performances by Sting
- Foo Fighters’ Albums Ranked from Worst to Best
42. Jimmy “Rev” Sullivan (Avenged Sevenfold)
Heavy metal, much like jazz, requires a great degree of technique and confidence to be played properly. Few modern drummers utilised these more efficiently than Jimmy “Rev” Sullivan, drummer extraordinaire and bona fide rock star.
With his help, Avenged Sevenfold brought entertaining heavy metal anthems to the attention of a brand new generation. Sullivan could play lightning-fast fills, but his drumming also had a swing to it, a rare trait in modern hard rock.
The Rev’s passing was a tragedy. However, his status as one of the greatest drummers is unchallenged.
43. Roger Hawkins
There are certain unofficial groups of studio musicians as famous as the rock stars who employ them. Of these, few are more renowned in rock and blues music than the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section from Alabama.
Sure, Roger Hawkins rarely got his picture in the paper during his heyday. But he did get to play on immortal hits by Joe Cocker, Percy Sledge, or Wilson Pickett. By the 1980s, he was drumming in Eric Clapton’s band. Roger Hawkins was an underrated genius!
44. Danny Carey (Tool)
On work days, Danny Carey writes and plays for one of the most prestigious prog-metal institutions in the world. On off days, he’s interested in occult philosophy and plays the toughest Rush and King Crimson songs for fun.
On either of those days, students of modern drumming peek in and try to learn. Carey is one of the greatest modern drummers!
45. Kenny Jones (Faces, The Who)
It might not be fair to judge a man based on who fate decided he was to replace. However, quite frankly, if you’re asked to replace The Who’s Keith Moon, you must be really good.
But Kenny Jones is more than just a technically good drummer. His drumming has character, drive, and, yes, precision. Listening to any of those early recordings by Faces, to me, has always been a delight.
46. Butch Trucks & Jaimoe (The Allman Brothers Band)
Sure, the Allman Brothers may just be the poster boys for Southern Rock. However, early in the band’s career, the group’s playing transcended genre limitations. Part of that hypnotic effect was the playing and interaction between Butch Trucks and Jaimoe.
They were the perfect team! Just listen to how their drumming gels in live performances. Typically, Trucks brings the rock feel, while Jaimoe brings the jazz swing. Together, they helped to make some of the best music of any genre.
47. Michael Shrieve (Santana)
Michael Schrieve was a teenage sensation. Before he could legally buy himself a drink, he was stunning an audience of thousands at the Woodstock Festival. Making a name with the original line-up of Santana, Shrieve next became an in-demand session player and electronic music composer.
Shrieve’s always been able to bring a real swing to rock songs. His phrases, focused heavily on the toms, feel almost like melodies in themselves. He’s one of the masters.
48. Joe Morello (The Dave Brubeck Quartet)
The original great jazz combos approached music-making like scientists seeking world-shattering breakthroughs. The Dave Brubeck Quartet found those with the help of Joe Morello’s masterful ability to play odd time signatures, the great dynamism of his playing and his control on the instrument.
Dave Brubeck’s jazz experiments were revolutionary. But they couldn’t have occurred without Joe Morello.
49. Tony Allen (Fela Kuti’s Africa ’70)
It speaks to a drummer’s ability and personality when you can find just as much enjoyment listening to the whole or to the isolated drum parts. Tony Allen is that kind of drummer.
Allen was born in Nigeria. He’s one of the pioneers of Afrobeat. Throughout the 1970s, he played in Fela Kuti’s legendary band. And, if you trust Brian Eno or Damon Albarn’s opinions, as well as my own, he was one of the greatest drummers who ever lived.
50. Al Jackson Jr. (Booker T. & the M.G.’s)
Some of the world’s best recordings, music by Otis Redding or Wilson Pickett, were made by Stax Records in Memphis. The majority of these records have Al Jackson Jr. on drums.
His work, and that of his session playing colleagues, became so famous, in fact, that it warranted the creation of Booker T. & the M.G.’s, one of the most famous instrumental bands of all time. In turn, Al Jackson Jr. is one of the most underrated drummers of all time.
Top 51 – 60
51. Topper Headon (The Clash)
Member of a band of bona fide punk-rock superheroes, Topper Headon is the least celebrated. And, that’s damn near a crime in my book. For one thing, Headon was the most musical of the bunch (he co-wrote the infectious “Rock the Casbah”) and the most low-key.
Essentially, Headon was a jazz drummer in a punk band. His chops, grooves, and spirit helped turn The Clash into a stadium act.
52. Billy Cobham (Mahavishnu Orchestra, Miles Davis)
Billy Cobham is one of the absolute masters of jazz-rock fusion playing. His use of technique and willingness to innovate upon it made him one of the drummers most worth studying. But it wasn’t just students who benefited from hearing him play his fluid, quick lines and watching his open-handed technique. Cobham played on records that influenced a host of future musicians.
53. Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick)
Cheap Trick had one of the best images of any band in rock. It contained two rockstar-looking types and two dorks. Bun E. Carlos was of the latter category. But this was just a comedy routine masking his incredible playing, a style born of a love of The Beatles and hard rock. Arguably, he’s never quite been replaced in this top power-pop band. How do you replace Bun E. Carlos anyway?
54. Mike Bordin (Faith No More, Ozzy Osbourne)
Mike Brodin is a modern master, one of the last “secret weapon” drummers in the business. While it’s his work with the ever-daring Faith No More that’s Brodin’s pride and joy, his hard-hitting, intense, precise approach earned him the coveted spot in Ozzy Osbourne’s band, as well as stints collaborating with Korn, Primus, and Black Label Society.
55. Levon Helm (The Band)
Either as a band leader, singer, or drummer, Levon Helm always knew when to step forward and when to drop back. Helm isn’t the most technically gifted player on this list. Then again, I didn’t assemble a list naming the greatest drummers with a view to skill alone. Helm’s playing always suited the song and, damn it, if he didn’t get to play on some of the greatest rock, blues and folk songs ever recorded.
56. Buddy Miles (Jimi Hendrix’s Band of Gypsys, Carlos Santana)
Yes, Buddy Miles was the army buddy of one Jimi Hendrix. That’s a pretty good connection to have, sure. But, make no mistake about it, Buddy Miles could play, and Hendrix knew it.
Unlike Mitch Mitchell, Miles played funky, almost hard-rocking grooves. This, alongside his singing ability, lent perfectly to Hendrix’s Band of Gypsys psychedelic journey.
57. Kenny Aronoff
If you’re famous and rich enough and need someone to fix your band’s ailing groove, you might just get the chance to call Kenny Aronoff. He’s known as one of the top professionals in rock music and for good reason. Aronoff hits hard, does it evenly, and brings his classical training in the service of fit-pumping rock music.
58. Vinnie Paul (Pantera, Damageplan)
The Abbots didn’t have just one prodigy musician in the family, but two. While Dimebag Darrell was sharpening his flashy solos, his brother, Vinnie Paul, was developing a powerful, precise, bass-heavy drum sound. Pantera called itself “groove metal,” and much of that was due to Vinnie Paul’s approach to playing.
59. Chris Frantz (Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club)
Chris Frantz, together with his wife and rhythm section partner Tina Weymouth, was responsible for giving Talking Heads, nominally a punk band, some of the best dance grooves around. Inspired by funk and soul, and prioritising efficiency over flash, Frantz is an integral part of Talking Heads’ enduring legacy.
60. Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters)
The drummer is supposed to be the heart and soul of a rock band if that group’s meant to be any good. Taylor Hawkins certainly epitomised this within Foo Fighters. But it wasn’t just charisma that earned him his reputation. Hawkins’ bag of tricks was built on an obsession with prog-rock groups like Genesis and pop-rock groups like The Police. His drumming had relentless drive and gave even more polished pop-rock tracks a sense of urgency.
Top 61 – 70
61. Tim “Herb” Alexander (Primus, Puscifer)
62. Max Weinberg (E Street Band)
63. Charlie Benante (Anthrax)
64. James Gadson
65. Jack DeJohnette (Pat Metheny, Bill Evans, Sonny Rollins)
66. Tony Thompson (Chic)
67. Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree)
68. Tomas Haake (Meshuggah)
69. Jon Theodore (Queens of the Stone Age, the Mars Volta, One Day as a Lion)
70. Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath, Dio)
Top 71 – 80
71. John Robinson (Steve Winwood, Michael Jackson)
72. Philip Selway (Radiohead)
73. Mick Fleetwood (Fleetwood Mac)
74. Igor Cavalera (Sepultura, Cavalera Conspiracy)
75. Simon Phillips (Toto, Jeff Beck)
76. Brann Dailor (Mastodon)
77. Mario Duplantier (Gojira)
78. Peter Criss (KISS)
79. Ray Luzier (Korn)
80. Fred Below (Little Walter, Chuck Berry)
Top 81 – 90
81. Mike Mangini (Dream Theater, Annihilator)
82. D.J. Fontana (Elvis Presley)
83. Tommy Aldridge (Ozzy Osbourne, Gary Moore, Thin Lizzy)
84. Carlton Barrett (Bob Marley & The Wailers)
85. Phil “Philphy Animal” Taylor (Motorhead)
86. Tony Williams (Miles Davis Quintet)
87. Steve Smith (Journey)
88. Zigaboo Modeliste (The Meters)
89. Jim Keltner
90. Earl Palmer (Little Richard, Fats Domino)
Top 91 – 100
91. Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart (Grateful Dead)
92. Simon Kirke (Bad Company, Free)
93. Elvin Jones (John Coltrane Quartet)
94. Clem Burke (Blondie)
95. Steven Adler (Guns N’ Roses)
96. Cindy Blackman (Lenny Kravitz)
97. Stan Lynch (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
98. Frank Beard (ZZ Top)
99. Nick Mason (Pink Floyd)
100. Lars Ulrich (Metallica)
Honorable Mentions
Top 101 – 110
Tico Torres (Bon Jovi)
Questlove (The Roots)
Liberty DeVito (Billy Joel)
Herman Rarebell (Scorpions)
Randy Castillo (Ozzy Osbourne, Motley Crue, Dio)
Zak Starkey (Oasis, The Who)
Chris Adler (Lamb of God, Megadeth)
Larry Mullen Jr. (U2)
Thomas Wydler (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds)
Tommy Clufetos (Ozzy Osbourne, Rob Zombie, Alice Cooper)
Top 111 – 120
Nick Menza (Megadeth)
Brian Downey (Thin Lizzy)
Scott Asheton (Iggy & The Stooges)
Todd Sucherman (Styx, Brian Wilson, Spinal Tap)
Chris Mars (The Replacements)
John French (Captain Beefheart’s Magic Band)
John Dolmayan (System of a Down)
Tommy Ramone (Ramones)
Dean Castronovo (Journey)
Matt Sorum (Velvet Revolver, Guns n’ Roses, The Cult)
Top 121 – 131
Meg White (The White Stripes)
Mikkey Dee (Scorpions, Motorhead)
Jack Bruno (Tina Turner)
Dave Elitch (The Mars Volta)
Eloy Casagrande (Sepultura, Slipknot)
Tiki Fullwood (Parliament Funkadelic)
George Kollias (Nile)
Mark Schulman
Ronnie Vannucci Jr. (The Killers)
Abe Laboriel Jr.
